suggestion
A suggestion is an idea or plan that someone offers for you to think about.
Explanation at your level:
A suggestion is an idea. If you are hungry, I can say, 'My suggestion is pizza.' You can say 'yes' or 'no' to a suggestion. It is a very useful word for making plans with friends!
When you want to help someone, you offer a suggestion. For example, if your friend is sad, your suggestion might be to watch a funny movie. It is a polite way to give advice.
A suggestion is a proposal for consideration. In a meeting, you might say, 'I have a few suggestions to improve our project.' It is more formal than saying 'an idea' and shows you are being thoughtful about the situation.
Using suggestion allows for nuance. You can 'make a suggestion' or 'offer a suggestion'. It is often used in professional contexts to provide feedback without being overly direct or critical, which helps maintain good relationships.
The term suggestion can also denote a subtle trace or impression. For instance, 'a suggestion of melancholy' in a person's voice indicates a faint, almost imperceptible quality. This usage is common in literary or descriptive writing to evoke atmosphere.
Etymologically, suggestion implies a 'bringing up' of thoughts. In psychological or philosophical discourse, it refers to the process of influencing someone's mind through subtle cues. Its usage spans from the mundane—offering a lunch plan—to the profound, such as the power of hypnotic suggestion.
واژه در 30 ثانیه
- A suggestion is an idea or plan offered for thought.
- It is a countable noun used in formal and casual settings.
- It can also mean a faint hint or trace of something.
- Commonly used with verbs like 'make' or 'offer'.
Hey there! Think of a suggestion as a little gift of thought. When you give someone a suggestion, you are offering an idea or a plan for them to think about or act upon. It is not a command; it is just a possibility you are putting on the table.
Sometimes, we use the word in a more artistic way. If you smell a suggestion of vanilla in a cake, it means there is just a tiny, faint hint of that flavor. It is not overwhelming, just a whisper of something extra.
The word suggestion travels back to the Latin word suggestio, which comes from suggerere. This literally means 'to bring up from under' or 'to supply'. It is like pulling an idea out from underneath the surface of your mind!
It entered Middle English through Old French in the 14th century. Interestingly, in its earliest history, it sometimes had a darker meaning related to 'temptation' or 'prompting to do evil', but over time, it evolved into the helpful, neutral term we use today.
In daily life, we often make a suggestion when we want to be helpful. You might say, 'I have a suggestion for dinner.' It is a very polite way to influence a situation without being bossy.
In formal settings, like a business meeting, people often use the phrase take a suggestion, meaning they are open to hearing what you have to say. Remember, it is a countable noun, so you can have one suggestion or many suggestions.
1. By suggestion: Happening because of an idea planted in someone's mind. 2. At someone's suggestion: Because someone recommended it. 3. Open to suggestion: Willing to listen to new ideas. 4. A suggestion box: A physical or digital place to drop anonymous ideas. 5. Under the suggestion of: Influenced by a subtle hint or idea.
The word is a standard countable noun. You can use it with 'a' (a suggestion) or in the plural (suggestions). It is often followed by the preposition 'for' or 'that' clauses.
Pronunciation: In IPA, it is /səˈdʒestʃən/. The stress is on the second syllable: suh-JEST-shun. It rhymes with words like 'digestion' and 'question'.
Fun Fact
It once meant 'temptation' in older religious texts!
Pronunciation Guide
Clear 'j' sound and soft 'sh' ending.
Very similar to UK, standard American rhythm.
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing the 'j' as a 'g'
- Missing the 'sh' sound
- Stressing the first syllable
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read in context.
Commonly used in formal writing.
Very useful for daily conversation.
Easy to hear and distinguish.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
پیشرفته
Grammar to Know
Countable vs Uncountable
A suggestion (countable).
Gerunds after prepositions
Suggestion for going.
That-clauses
I suggest that you go.
Examples by Level
I have a suggestion.
I have an idea.
Use 'a' with singular nouns.
Do you have any suggestions?
Do you have any ideas?
Use 'any' for questions.
That is a good suggestion.
That is a good idea.
Adjective + noun.
Thanks for the suggestion.
Thank you for the idea.
Preposition 'for'.
My suggestion is to go home.
My idea is to go home.
Infinitive verb.
He gave me a suggestion.
He gave me an idea.
Verb 'give'.
We followed your suggestion.
We did what you said.
Past tense.
Write your suggestion here.
Write your idea here.
Imperative verb.
Do you have any suggestions for the party?
Her suggestion helped us win.
I am open to your suggestions.
The teacher liked my suggestion.
He made a suggestion about the time.
Can I offer a suggestion?
They ignored my suggestion.
Please put your suggestions in the box.
The committee is considering his suggestion.
I have a suggestion that we leave early.
It was just a suggestion, not a rule.
She made a helpful suggestion during the meeting.
The menu has a suggestion of garlic.
Your suggestion is very practical.
We are looking for suggestions on how to improve.
He took my suggestion seriously.
I would like to put forward a suggestion.
The plan was implemented at his suggestion.
There was a faint suggestion of perfume in the air.
The proposal is open to further suggestion.
Her suggestion was met with approval.
He offered a suggestion to resolve the conflict.
The report includes several suggestions for change.
Don't take it as a criticism; it's just a suggestion.
The painting has a subtle suggestion of sadness.
His tone carried a suggestion of irony.
The theory is based on the suggestion that time is circular.
She spoke with a suggestion of authority.
The room had a suggestion of old books and dust.
He acted on the suggestion of his mentor.
The suggestion was dismissed as impractical.
There is a strong suggestion that the market will crash.
The suggestion of a conspiracy began to spread.
He resisted the subtle suggestion to change his mind.
The novel is filled with a suggestion of impending doom.
Her work is a mere suggestion of her true talent.
The hypnotist used the power of suggestion.
His argument rests on the suggestion of historical precedent.
The atmosphere held a suggestion of mystery.
The policy change was a suggestion of the new management's intent.
ترکیبهای رایج
Idioms & Expressions
"open to suggestion"
willing to listen to ideas
I am open to suggestion on where to eat.
neutral"at the suggestion of"
because someone proposed it
We moved at the suggestion of our boss.
formal"take a suggestion on board"
to accept and consider an idea
I will take your suggestion on board.
neutral"a suggestion of"
a small trace of something
There is a suggestion of rain in the air.
neutral"by way of suggestion"
as a possible idea
I say this only by way of suggestion.
formalEasily Confused
Both are ideas.
A proposal is more formal and structured.
Business proposal vs. lunch suggestion.
Both are helpful.
Advice is guidance; a suggestion is an option.
He gave me advice; he made a suggestion.
Both can be subtle.
A hint is a clue; a suggestion is a proposal.
A hint of mystery; a suggestion for a plan.
Both are thoughts.
An opinion is a belief; a suggestion is an action plan.
My opinion is that it's good; my suggestion is to try it.
Sentence Patterns
I have a suggestion for + [noun]
I have a suggestion for the project.
My suggestion is that + [subject] + [verb]
My suggestion is that we start now.
At the suggestion of + [person]
At the suggestion of my mom, I went.
Open to + [noun]
I am open to suggestions.
Make a suggestion about + [gerund]
She made a suggestion about leaving.
خانواده کلمه
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
مرتبط
How to Use It
9/10
Formality Scale
اشتباهات رایج
We don't use the 'object + infinitive' pattern with suggest.
Suggest is usually followed by -ing or a that-clause.
Suggest does not take the 'to' infinitive.
Prepositions must be followed by gerunds.
Ensure you don't treat it as uncountable; it is countable.
Tips
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a chef adding a 'suggestion' of spice to a dish.
When Native Speakers Use It
When they want to be polite about changing a plan.
Cultural Insight
Suggestion boxes are a staple of Western office culture.
Grammar Shortcut
Remember: Suggest + that + clause.
Say It Right
Focus on the 'j' sound in the middle.
Don't Make This Mistake
Never use the infinitive (to go) after suggest.
Did You Know?
The word is related to 'gestures' in some linguistic theories.
Study Smart
Keep a list of 'suggestion' collocations in your notebook.
Writing Tip
Use 'suggestion' to make your essays sound more academic.
Speaking Tip
Use it to soften your advice.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
SUG-GEST: 'SUG' (sugar) + 'GEST' (guest). A guest brings a sweet suggestion.
Visual Association
A box with a slot labeled 'Ideas'.
Word Web
چالش
Try to make three suggestions to a friend today about what to do this weekend.
ریشه کلمه
Latin
Original meaning: to bring up from under
بافت فرهنگی
None, it is a neutral term.
Common in offices, schools, and social planning.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
at work
- I have a suggestion.
- Let's put it in the suggestion box.
- I am open to suggestions.
at school
- Do you have any suggestions?
- That is a good suggestion.
- I followed your suggestion.
planning a trip
- Do you have any suggestions for places to visit?
- That is a great suggestion.
- I'll take your suggestion.
cooking
- There is a suggestion of garlic.
- A suggestion of spice.
- A faint suggestion of herbs.
Conversation Starters
"What is the best suggestion you have ever received?"
"Do you like giving suggestions to friends?"
"Have you ever used a suggestion box?"
"What is your suggestion for a perfect weekend?"
"Is it hard to take suggestions from others?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you gave a helpful suggestion.
Describe a time someone gave you a suggestion that changed your mind.
If you could give a suggestion to the world, what would it be?
Reflect on why it is sometimes hard to accept suggestions.
سوالات متداول
8 سوالYes, you can have one suggestion or many suggestions.
S-U-G-G-E-S-T-I-O-N.
No, say 'suggest that you go'.
No, it is usually helpful.
The verb is 'suggest'.
No, it is just an idea for consideration.
Yes, a 'suggestion of' means a faint hint.
Yes, very common.
خودت رو بسنج
I have a ___ for you.
Suggestion fits the context of an idea.
What does a suggestion box do?
It collects ideas.
Is 'suggest' a noun?
Suggest is a verb; suggestion is the noun.
Word
معنی
These are common collocations.
Subject-Verb-Object.
امتیاز: /5
Summary
A suggestion is a polite and helpful way to share an idea with others.
- A suggestion is an idea or plan offered for thought.
- It is a countable noun used in formal and casual settings.
- It can also mean a faint hint or trace of something.
- Commonly used with verbs like 'make' or 'offer'.
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a chef adding a 'suggestion' of spice to a dish.
When Native Speakers Use It
When they want to be polite about changing a plan.
Cultural Insight
Suggestion boxes are a staple of Western office culture.
Grammar Shortcut
Remember: Suggest + that + clause.
